Danish Apricot Bars Recipes

APRICOT CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add the sugar, butter, eggs and sour cream. Gradually add salt and 2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in remaining flour (the dough will be soft and sticky). Place in a greased bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 2-3 times. Divide in half. Roll each half into a 16x10-in. oval; place on greased baking sheets., For filling, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla until smooth. Spread 1-1/4 cups filling over each oval to within 1 in. of edges. Fold longest side over filling; pinch edges to seal. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Bake at 375° for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Spread preserves on top. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator.

WINNING APRICOT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk flour and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Fold in coconut and walnuts., Press two-thirds of dough onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Spread with preserves; crumble remaining dough over preserves. Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

APRICOT BARS

Steps:

• In 1-quart saucepan, cook all filling ingredients, stirring constantly, just to boiling over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apricots are tender and filling has thickened. Cool.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix 1 cup whole wheat flour, the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In large bowl, beat egg, brown sugar, oil, orange juice concentrate and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Stir in flour mixture until blended. Reserve 1/2 cup dough mixture for topping.
• Pat remaining dough in pan. Spread filling over dough. Add remaining 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour and the butter to reserved dough mixture. With pastry blender or fork, mix until crumby; sprinkle over filling.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until top is golden and firm. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.

DANISH APRICOT BARS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water let stand until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.In a medium bowl, mix flour, 1/2 cup of the sugar, and salt. With a pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until pieces are the size of small peas. Add egg and yeast mixture blend until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough into two equal portions. Cover and chill at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.In a medium bowl, combine preserves, pecans, dried apricots, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar set aside.Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.On a lightly floured surface, roll one portion of dough into a 13 x 9-inch rectangle. Carefully fit into pan. Evenly spread apricot filling over dough to within 1/2 inch of all edges. Roll remaining dough into a 13 x 9-inch rectangle. Place on top of fruit mixture lightly press edges to seal.Bake 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown. Cool pan on a wire rack.Store tightly covered in a cool place up to 3 days. Cut into bars. Just before serving, dust with powdered sugar.

APRICOT CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add eggs, butter, sour cream and sugar. Gradually add 2 cups flour and salt; beat until smooth. Stir in remaining flour (dough will be soft and sticky). Place in a greased bowl. Cover; refrigerate overnight.
• For filling, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth. Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead two to three times. Divide in half. Roll each half into a 16 x 10 inch oval and place on greased baking sheets. Spread 1 1/4 cups filling over each oval to within 1 inch of edges. Fold longest side over filling; pinch edges to seal. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Bake at 375 for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Spread preserves on top. Dust with confectioners sugar. Store in the refrigerator.

DANISH PASTRY APPLE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.)
• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat egg yolk in measuring cup and add enough milk to make 2/3 cup total liquid. Stir into flour mixture until all flour is damp. Divide the dough in half. On floured surface, roll half the dough into a rectangle and fit into a 9x13 inch pan.
• In large bowl, combine apples, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Put apple mixture in pan. Roll out remaining dough and place over apples. Seal edges and cut slits in top dough. Beat egg white till frothy and brush on crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes, or until golden brown.

DANISH DOUGH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk; stir until dissolved. Let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine 1 pound, 4 ounces flour, sugar, salt, cardamom, and 4 tablespoons butter; beat on low speed until butter is incorporated and the mixture resembles coarse meal, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the yeast-milk mixture; mix until dough just comes together. Add the eggs and yolk; mix until just combined, 2 to 3 minutes. Do not overmix.
• Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface, making sure to include any loose bits left at the bottom of the bowl. Gently knead to form a smooth ball, about 30 seconds. Wrap well with plastic, and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Paddle remaining 3 1/2 sticks butter with 2 tablespoons flour. Form flour and butter mixture into a 12-by-10-inch rectangle on a sheet of plastic wrap. Refrigerate 15 minutes or up to 1 day. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to an 18-by-10-inch rectangle, a little over a 1/4 inch thick, keeping the corners as square as possible. Remove any excess flour with a dry pastry brush. Remove butter mixture from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature until it reaches the consistency of the dough. With a short side facing you, place butter mixture over 2/3 of the dough. Fold the unbuttered third over as you would a business letter, followed by the remaining third. This seals in the butter.
• Roll out dough again to an 18-by-10-inch rectangle, then fold dough into thirds as described above; refrigerate for 1 hour. This is the first of three turns. Repeat rolling and folding two more times, refrigerating for at least 1 hour between turns. To help you remember how many turns have been completed, mark the dough after each one: make one mark for the first turn, two for the second, and three for the third.
• Refrigerate dough, tightly wrapped in plastic, for at least 4 hours or overnight. Dough can also be frozen, tightly wrapped in plastic, for up to 2 weeks; before using, thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight.

DANISH-APRICOT FILLING

Steps:

• Put apricots, water and sugar into a saucepan.
• Heat and simmer until apricots are soft, plumped and have absorbed most of the liquid.
• (Can be done in a Microwave).
• Puree in food processor, transfer to a bowl and stir in lemon juice and almond extract.
• Scrape filling into a small container and cool to room temperature.
• Seal container and chill.
• Will keep refrigerated for two weeks.

APPLE DANISH BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10x15-inch baking pan. Divide egg; set aside egg white for filling.
• Combine flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in shortening with 2 knives or a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Mix in milk and egg yolk until incorporated. Divide dough into two equal pieces. Pat one piece into the bottom of the prepared pan; set other piece aside.
• Mix apples, brown sugar, sour cream, flour, butter, and cinnamon together until well combined. Pour over the dough in the pan.
• Roll or pat remaining dough into a rectangle and place on top of filling. Beat reserved egg white until frothy and brush over dough.
• Bake until top and bottom are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely, about 30 minutes, before cutting into bars.